Hydration Backpack with Drinking Tube Positioning

Hydration Backpack with Drinking Tube Positioning for Manual or Power Wheelchair. Each sold individually.

The Hydration Backpack with Drinking Tube Positioning is an assistive drinking aid that enables independent drinking for disabled individuals. It was adapted to make a larger volume of water (larger than a cup provides) available to individuals with disabilities in wheelchairs who are unable to access the drink tube of a standard hydration backpack. To facilitate access to the drink tube and valve for those who have limited range of head movement, the drinking tube is contained within a flexible conduit, or, as we refer to it, a flex-tube. The flex-tube is clamped to one of the handles or to the frame of a wheelchair. (The manual wheelchair clamp is included with this drinking system. However, another version of this Drinking System is available that is designed for wheelchairs with Slide-Track rails.) The flex-tube can be shaped so that the drinking tube is positioned to meet the needs and desires of the user, thus providing hands free drinking. Once the flex-tube is shaped, it will hold it's positioned until it is adjusted. The drinking tube and bite valve are held in a position such that the user can easily place their mouth on the bite valve. (The bite valve restricts the liquid from flowing until pressure is applied to it by the user's lips or teeth.)

The hydration backpack with drinking tube positioning is suitable for individuals who have limited head movement and who have adequate oral control to bite and suck. It holds 70-oz. of liquid to provide long periods of access to hydration without refilling.

The Hydration Backpack Drinking System with Drinking Tube Positioning provides hands free drinking for disabled individuals who have limited head movement and adequate oral control to bite and suck, and those who lack the arm/hand strength or coordination to hold and lift a drink in the usual manner.

For individuals with these limitations, this assistive drinking system will allow total independence from a caregiver for a drink for long periods of time. Thus, the user is freed from having to ask for a drink when they become thirsty, or have a dry mouth. They can take a drink whenever they wish, which, inevitably, will lead to better hydration.